Peter Moschetti

The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) Jan. 26 once again elected not to propose or vote upon any changes to whip use that would be more humane to Thoroughbreds, making it now more than a year since that agency first began discussing how it might address one of the sport's hot-button equine welfare issues the way regulators in other racing states have long since done. "We have a report that just arrived to us in the last 24 hours on the use of the crop. And staff will be...

As New York remains well behind other racing states to pass rules on whipping reform, the Sep. 21 meeting of the New York State Gaming Commission marked the fourth consecutive session over a nine-month span that the commission again declined to take up any substantial action on the topic. The NYSGC did, however, inch forward on the matter by declaring at the end of Monday's 14-minute meeting that October would be the month in which it sought public commentary from stakeholders. "I think we all agree that this is a...

For the third consecutive meeting over a seven-month span, the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) Monday again declined to take up any discussion of whip rule reform. Possible changes to whipping rules were initially brought up at the NYSGC's December 2019 meeting. Since that time, a number of other major racing jurisdictions--including California, Kentucky, Maryland and New Jersey--have all advanced changes in whip rules at the commission level that are designed to be more humane to horses. Near the conclusion of the 14-minute teleconference meeting July 27, commissioner Peter...

An Aqueduct apprentice jockey who last year was suspended 10 days for allegedly not dismounting from his injured horse in a timely manner had his penalty wiped off the books via appeal by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) Monday. The case involved jockey Benjamin Hernandez, who rode Tiger Man (Desert Party) in the eighth race Feb. 8, 2019. According to the Equibase chart, the 0-for-9 maiden-claimer "completed the half hobbling its way to the quarter pole, was eased [and] then pulled up." The NYSGC's Equine Breakdown, Death, Injury...